What does it take to launch a wellness brand that sticks and scales? In this inspiring episode, Marcus welcomes John Klein to share the quiet courage behind building a wellness sanctuary in a world that rarely slows down. From sleepless nights to studios across the country, this is a story of risk, resilience, and reclaiming what it means to feel well.

John Klein is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pause Studio, a pioneering wellness brand offering science-backed recovery experiences like float therapy, cryotherapy, and IV drips. After two decades scaling major fitness brands like Equinox and SoulCycle, John stepped out of the corporate world to build something deeply personal: an accessible, high-impact studio for proactive healing. With over 100 franchise territories awarded, he’s on a mission to bring holistic health to everyday people, one pause at a time.

Episode highlights:
[0:00] Intro
[2:08] What does Pause Wellness Studio offer?
[6:47] Why John finally made the leap
[12:07] Choosing franchising to scale wellness
[15:49] How local owners fuel success
[20:39] Red flags in potential franchisees
[25:20] How COVID accelerated the wellness shift
[36:06] Making elite health tools accessible
[39:28] The power of the Lifeforce partnership
[42:38] Building a brand that markets itself
[49:57] What parenting taught him about leadership
[53:07] Advice for young entrepreneurs
[54:45] Outro